[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] venture to write a
few thoughts suggested by your article on sleep in the Spectator of April 1st.
(1) The physical phenomena, of which a lowered tempera- ture is the chief, are for the most part, though perhaps not altogether, due-first to the fact that we do not feed at night, and secondly to the muscular and cerebral inactivity of sleep. They occur to a much greater extent in hibernation.
(2) It is characteristic of healthy sleep that it is a complete break in consciousness. The more dreams the less complete the sleep. Consciousness implies perception of what are technically called stimuli, which include all we hear, or see, or feel. This perception is not passive, but is the result of continuous mental, with which coincides cerebral, activity. The brain tires like the muscles, and how much fatigue is due to the former may be gauged by the difference between sleep and mere rest.
(3) The process of recuperation is as unknown as the process of growth.
(4) What becomes of myself, which includes my soul,- when I am asleep, or under chloroform, or drunk, or mad, or dead, I neither know nor am likely to know. It is not I who need rest, but my body and brain.
(5) Difficulties in going to sleep are sometimes physical, more often mental. The physical under ordinary circum- stances are due to the circulation. The following are a few practical hints. Some sleep better half sitting up with three pillows, some better with none; some with little covering, some with much. Hot drinks or a hot bath just before sleep, hot bottles to the feet, are often useful. Tobacco often increases sleeplessness. Sometimes, after long waking, a small meal will bring sleep. Some, especially invalids, wake after two or three hours ; a cup of hot fresh tea will often send them to sleep again. Sometimes the darkness seems exciting, and one can sleep with a lighted candle. Intermittent noises, as of a rattling window, are always bad, but a continuous noise is often a lullaby. Moderate fatigue aids, but exhaustion pre- vents, sleep.. Oftenest sleeplessness is mental, and springs front want of self-control. Either one subject engrosses the mind, or a succession of ideas. In either case the sleepless must make the effort to stop thought. It is best done by attending continuously to some monotonous and unexciting idea, which is self-hypnotism. Some count, some breathe slowly as if asleep, some look at imaginary sheep going through a gate. One of the best ways is to watch those curious appear- ances which come to closed eyes, a purple hare fading into a star, which becomes an irregular line, and again changes to something else. They cannot be seen when first sought, but will come with a little patience. In all these the purpose is to fix the attention on some object which will arouse no asso- ciations. It requires steady effort to do this, and to prevent the thoughts wandering, but exercise increases the power to succeed. The half-hour before bedtime should be spent quietly.
(6) To lie into encourages, not corrects, sleeplessness.• To sleep much is to shorten life, and is also bad for the health.— [As to (6) we know that the late Sir William Gull -stated that nine hours' sleep was a rational allowance, and that he always got it when, he could.—En. Spectator]
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